In our two copies, the impression of the signature on the plate is very shallow, but can be detected by touch, if a finger is sensitive enough, or by looking at the back of the plate with a raking (sideways) light. In letterpress printing, in which inked letters and images are pressed into the paper, the depth of impression will vary according to the preference of the printer -- some like a deep indentation, others only what is called a 'kiss', and everywhere in between -- and the depth may vary slightly also through the course of the print run as a result of wear of the printing materials or mechanical variations in the press.

I also have two copies. In one, the impression of the signature is very clear when looked at from the other side of the page. The other is quite different. Only the upper branch of the 'K' and the underline appear as a raised area on the other side of the page. There is no other difference between the two volumes that I can discern, although the copy with a weak signature impression is somewhat more used. There is a little foxing and the dustwrapper is missing.

The other Tolkien books with facsimile impressions that I have checked (all the Tree and Leaf versions) do not show this impression, but of course they are not printed on this glossy high quality paper.